# Just Checking In. vs Shared Heartbeat

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shared Heartbeat at none against Just Checking In.'s 2. Just Checking In.'s advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Just Checking In. sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Shared Heartbeat asks for nothing beyond the download.

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, Shared Heartbeat every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Just Checking In. | Shared Heartbeat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-checking-in/id1507778735/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **87** | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 53 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Heraclius LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507778734) | [JUAN DIEGO ALDAMA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878346363) |

## What reviewers say

### Just Checking In.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-checking-in/id1507778735)

This app facilitates private daily emotional check-ins among trusted circles. It helps users share their feelings, stay connected, and receive notifications if someone stops checking in, promoting peace of mind and genuine connection.

**Highlights:** Daily emotional check-ins, Private by default sharing, Trusted circle creation, Mood tracker and history, Customizable reminders, Missed check-in alerts, Private in-app chat

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JCI Premium Account | $4.99 | per month |
| Advocate | $42.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy-to-use interface
- 💡 Innovative concept for mental health tracking
- 🔗 Effective support circle/accountability feature
- ⏰ Customizable reminder notifications
- 📊 Mood history and tracking capability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app freezing and crashes
- 🐛 Setup/onboarding process broken
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Unreliable notification system
- 🐛 Missing check-in alerts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes during onboarding/tour
- Cannot scroll through setup screens
- Keyboard covers input fields during registration
- Inconsistent reminder notifications
- False alerts about missed check-ins

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Mental health articles and educational content
- Mood trend graphs and analytics
- Direct messaging between circle members
- Suggested mood descriptors/prompts


### Shared Heartbeat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shared-heartbeat/id6759371410)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Just Checking In. free?

Just Checking In. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shared Heartbeat free?

Shared Heartbeat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Just Checking In. or Shared Heartbeat have ads?

Neither Just Checking In. nor Shared Heartbeat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Just Checking In. or Shared Heartbeat?

Just Checking In. ships an update weekly, and Shared Heartbeat every 2 months. Most recently, Just Checking In. was updated on November 7, 2026 and Shared Heartbeat on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
